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The husband has been trying to talk me into trading in my 2014 Subaru Forester for years now. But I love Ethel, and she only has 64,000 gentle miles, so I keep saying no.
Determined to prove that now is the perfect time to upgrade, I allowed him to drag me to a dealership to check out the 2022 models. There was only one problem.
There aren’t any 2022 models.
We checked 4 dealerships, but due to chip shortages and shipping backlogs the closest they could show me was a 2021 loaner of an entirely different grade.
.
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The husband insisted we test drive it, which we did. And while I admit it was newer and a bit peppier than mine, I was less than thrilled with the new energy conserving process that shuts off the engine every time you idle at a stop light. While the actual shutting down was smooth, the restart was jarring and bound to be annoying over time. They told us we could disable the feature, but it would have to be done every single time we drove as it resets to default.
For $38,000 plus? I said no thanks. But the husband was pushing me to order a new one and wait God knows how many months to get it….
.
.
So he dragged me into the salesman’s office and had them appraise Ethel for a trade.
My Ethel.
I understand she’s 7 years old.. but she has low mileage and is loaded (with heated leather seats, back up camera, Nav and panoramic moon roof). My absolutely perfect Ethel… who Kelly Blue Book says has a trade in value of $16,500 and a private sale value of $17,800?
They offered us $10,000.
And that was all it took for my husband to be insulted, leave and stop badgering me to trade my vehicle.
Thank you Covid 19. Your virus induced shortages actually benefitted me this time around.
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After that fiasco, it was time for lunch at one of our favorite waterfront restaurants.
.
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A raspberry lime gin Ricky…
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And a scrumptious crab cake appetizer later, I was on my way to happy.
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Add a Campari Sangria and a fresh panko breaded haddock sandwich… and I was there.
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The husband started with clam chowder and moved on to a blood rare filet with grilled asparagus which, while quite satisfying….
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Set our wallet back a cool $53.
So yeah, thanks Covid 19 for driving food prices up so high our favorite place for lunch now makes my debit card shudder.
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Lovely fall photo inserted just because I can.
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River's world..... 
Your husband needs to learn to leave your stuff alone.
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Most men would be thrilled their wife doesn’t want a new car. WTH?
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My Acadia is also a 2014. I love her as well. I believe I should give her a name.
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My late mother named Ethel.
😊
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Aww. 🙂
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Good for you. I have a 2014 Subaru Forrester as well. Also low milage about 84,000 kms. My plan is to hold on to it for another couple of years then hopefully buy an electric vehicle. Been test driving a few this summer.
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The Foresters are remodeled every year with the last change being 2019. That gives me another few years to keep putting the husband off.
😉
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I new you named your car!! Ethel sounds like she’s perfectly happy to be left alone. As for the lunch bill…dang!
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My late mother actually named her. Maybe that’s why I’m reluctant to give her up..
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True, there’s an emotional connection to Ethel 💜
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We had a Honda that lasted twenty years before it died in the driveway. I bet Ethel could go almost as long, if not longer. It’s Fred who’ll conk out sooner.
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Ha! No doubt.
🤣
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I’ve got a 21 year old Honda Civic. Bought in 2000 and still going strong. At the Toyota Dealership (for BFF’s car), TWO of the younger repair guys BEGGED me to sell it to them because it’s in such great shape.
I declined. Now is NOT the time to buy a car.
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It most definitely is not. Ethel is safe.
👍
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I’ll order a gooseberry Bellini please.
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This restaurant serves their Bloody Marys in a Grey Goose bottle with the neck sawed off. It’s a giant drink.. and I’ve had the gooseberry Bellini. It’s massive as well!
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I always was slightly amazed by the portion sizes when we were in the US, but I have no objection to gigantic cocktails.
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We’re the land of super size. And have the obesity rates to prove it.
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It’s very concerning that we live in a world where someone else controls our food supply. If we don’t have money we can’t eat. With those prices, next step is slavery to some corporation. Earth don’t work like that…
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Planet earth may not, but the human species has made it so.
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Okay I give up–what is Allagash?????? A new car???
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That’s the husband favorite beer and the one he currently has on tap in the man cave.
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I figure last year’s lumber shortage doubled the price of my shed, and our favorite pizza joint now gouges me $60 for a couple pies and breadsticks. Thanks, COVID.
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Food has become a treat. And eating out? An absolute luxury.
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My Honda is a 2003 & she still is spunky. Leave it to a man to want to trade-in an older model for one that’s younger. 😉
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As long as he doesn’t try that with me….
I’m already 17 years his junior. Any younger, and she might kill him.
🤣
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Ha!
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When I start my car, I have to press four buttons just to get it to drive how I want it! It’s bloody annoying.
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Some of the new features are great, others? Not.
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Love the fall photo. Lunch sounds nice, but talk about sticker shock. I can see paying a premium price for a nice filet, but $8 for asparagus to go with that steak seems a bit much.
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And the steak came with nothing.
🥴
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It’s Maine. You’d think they could give you some spuds
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And for that price? A pat of butter to go with it.
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I keep getting emails from the car dealership that they want to buy my vehicle. Sadly, they don’t have any replacements. I suppose they think I’m a great ‘walker’.
I’ve heard of people selling used vehicles now (trucks) for more than they paid years before.
It’s a crazy time to be alive.
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That’s what my husband heard as well, which is why he wants to trade my gently used Ethel. When their offer came in so low, he quickly changed his mind.
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